Phil Ivey arrives late, leaves early in WSOP $10K Stud Championship

“So, are we all bracelet winners?”

In the $10K Stud Championship, it’s not an outlandish question for Philadelphia’s Jason Kluska to ask his tablemates.

Like all the $10K Championship events during the WSOP, this tournament has attracted a highly qualified field. Registration has just closed, and the stragglers hopping in at the last minute include many players you’d expect to see go all the way.

Jason Kluska is checking credentials.

Travis P Ball

People like 5-time bracelet winner Martin Kabrhel, who has immediately made his presence felt at his table — and anywhere within earshot. Nick Guagenti is seated directly to his right, and it looks to be a tricky spot for reasons beyond strategic position.

Then there’s 11-time WSOP winner Phil Ivey, for once not surrounded by cameras and reporters — he can thank Kabrhel’s presence at the next table for that.

Also joining late, mixed game supremo Benny Glaser. The Brit is looking to get his 2026 series properly underway, after winning three events here last year.

Both Glaser and Kabrhel were in the runing for WSOP Player of the Year in 2025.

Jess Beck

The real deal

But back to Kluska’s query. A quick look around his table reveals players with no fewer than 10 WSOP bracelets between them. Jerry Wong (1), Paul Volpe (3) and Jeff Madsen (5 — the latest just last night) make up the bulk.

Another player nods at the question. Kluska follows up.

“Is yours a real one, or a fake one? There’s so many given out these days, it seems like if you just play long enough, you’ll get one eventually.”

“It’s real,” replies Dan Sepiol. It came in 2024, six months after he won $5M+ at the WPT World Championships. He now has close to $10 million in recorded tournament earnings.

Daniel Sepiol has the chops.

Jess Beck

But reputations can only take you so far. Almost as quickly as Ivey joined, he was out again and looking for another game.

The prizepool for the $10K 7 Card Stud Championship has been confirmed, with the top 20 paid and the winner receiving $301K. Chip leader at the time of writing is the UK’s James Cheung.

They’ll play eight levels today and come back to finish it off on Sunday.

Selected late entries — $10K 7 Card Stud Championship

• Daniel Sepiol
• Phil Ivey
• Martin Kabrhel
• Jeremy Ausmus
• Benny Glaser
• Calvin Anderson
• Frank Brannan
• Ryutaro Suzuki

^{Additional images courtesy of WSOP.}